What I thought I would start with, and what I will.

There’s no doubt that the Tour Aotearoa is daunting. No the riding, as that’s something anyone that enters does already, but what to take?

Below are the lists that what I thought I’d be taking, and what I am taking. Due to leaving Cape Reinga and getting to Auckland only being 1 night away, I’m travelling with just a sleeping bag.

When I reach Auckland I’m going to add the rest of the gear.

Here’s what I thought I’d need when I signed up. And yes, I got carried away with the romance of roughing it. Cooking on a ultralight stove. Sleeping in a bivy. But the reality is very different.

TA Gear list

Bar purse total: 1,638 g

“A small bag with the important stuff that you can take off easily if you leave your bike unattended.”

• Revelate Design bar purse – 330 g
• Anker 20,000ma battery – 362 g
• Charging cords x3 (in separate dry bag)-128 g
• Chamois cream – 127 g
• Mobile pharmacy – 90 g
• Petzl 300l headlamp – 86 g
• Coffee setup/filters/lighter – 66 g
• Anker fast charger wall plug – 65 g
• Garmin Edge 520 (backup) – 64 g
• Deodorant – 30 g
• Toothpaste 24 g
• Ride notes + pen – 24 g
• Toilet paper (in zip lock) – 14 g
• Toothbrush – 10 g
• Super glue x2 – 10 g

Top tube tool bag total: 647 g

• Revelate Designs Jerrycan – 85 g
• Multi tool ratchet/ torque wrench – 226 g
• Ground coffee – 200 g
• Leatherman – 167 g
• Spare parts(d hanger, disc pads, chain link, tire plugs/boot, co2 head) – 141 g
• Sea to Summit ultra sil nano 18 l pack – 28 g

Frame bag total:1731 g

“Sometimes I will keep a raincoat in here but for the most part it’s just accessories and stuff that doesn’t fit nicely into the other bags.”

• Revelate Designs frame bag – 300 g
• Spare tubes x2 – 250 g
• 1250 lumen light (rechargeable) 248g
• Fire Maple In case – 113 g
• Kathmandu microfiber towel -110 g
• Gorilla tape – 100 g
• Rope (for things) – 62 g
• Liquid soap – 60 g
• Mini bottle of finish line wet lube – 30 g
• Thermarest patches – 12 g
• Ti Spork – 10 g

On me total: 1,422 g

• Shoes – 754 g
• Helmet – 310 g
• Glasses – 41 g
• Phone/wallet – 225 g
• Headphones -12 g
• Cycling cap – 30 g
• HR strap – 50 g

Bar bag total: 2,554 g

“I choose to keep my entire sleep system in here. Many people ask why I don’t use a bivy. Simply put, my tent weighs slightly more and takes up only slightly more space and is infinitely more comfortable than a bivy, especially when its cold and wet.”

• Revelate Designs Dry bag -201 g + 400 g (harness)
• Sleeping bag- 530 g
• Thermarest neo air x lite – 340 g
• Outdoor Research Helium Bivy  – 459 g

Top tube snack box total: 426 g

“This is a hipster bike packing bento box.- it holds my Snickers and I love it.”

• Apidura- Top tube bag. – 136 g
• Average food – 290 g

Saddle bag total: 4,435 g

“All my clothes are in here and some off bike sneakers (in a separate dry bag). I will usually pack it in reverse order of what I may need for the day. So camp and off bike clothes go in first and leg warmers, rain coat, extra gloves, hat, etc., go in last. Try and compress and roll this down as much as possible to avoid major sway-especially when you’re standing.”

• Revelate Designs – dry bag + harness -154 g+455 g
• Stove + bowl + gas – 268 g + 295 g
• Jandals – 280 g
• Bib shorts x 1 – 200 g
• Randonee trousers – 295 g
• JandalsArcteryx cerium SL – 235 g
• Glide path baggies- 200 g
• Long sleeve merino base layer – 166 g
• Dangle mug – 160 g
• Free flow jacket S – 147 g
• Rapha merino  LS- 137 g
• Puffer jacket – 128 g
• Rapha leg warmers – 125 g
• Underwear x2 – 112 g
• Rapha Merino socks x2- 110 g
• Rapha Long Finger gloves – 106 g
• Rapha t-shirt – 96 g
• Rapha gloves – 67 g
• Rapha arm warmers – 65 g
• Lightweight merino ss bass layer – 60 g
• Toque (not beanie or cap or wool hat) – 60 g
• Rapha buff- 34 g
• Lightweight socks – 35 g

Extras on bike total: 576 g

• Rapha lock – 150 g
• Garmin edge 830+ mount – 167 g
• Front and rear lights – 234 g
• Volie ski straps x2 – 125 g
• Garmin Charger pack – 132 g

Now the reality

Day 1 to omapere and aklGear list

rear pack

• sleeping bag and liner
• jandals
• frame bag
• arm warmers
• cables for electronics
• wallet
• lock
• chamois cream
• oil, rag, multitool, chain link, spare tubes

From AKL

Front harness

• Sleeping bag and liner

frame bag

• arm warmers
• cables & Battery pack for electronics
• wallet
• lock
• chamois cream
• oil, rag, multitool, chain link, spare tubes
• 3B cream (the best cream there is)

Top tube bag

• food

Rear pack

• puffer jacket
• rain jacket
• bibs
• merino
• tee shirt
• socks
• jersey
• jandals
• arm and leg warmers
• shoe covers
• Snood
• Long finger gloves
• merino boxer shorts
• Casual shorts

I’ve also changed my bags. Originally I’d purchased Rapha bikepacking bags, and now I’ve bought Revelate designs harness and spine lock rear packs. The Rapha frame bag is excellent, and I’d highly recommend. Yet, the Revelate Designs bags are superb.

All this, and I haven’t even started yet.

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